It was a banner year for area basketball team this season.

In fact, for the Marian and Northwestern girls it was literally a banner year.The Fillies captured a District 11 Class A championship while the Lady Tigers claimed the Colonial League title.Not surprising, the two teams dominated the TIMES NEWS Girls all-star basketball teams. Both Marian and Northwestern placed two players on the First Team and two more on the Second Team.Trista Cunningham and Sarah Segan represent the Tigers on the top team and are joined by the Fillies' Savanna Krusinsky and Abbey Whildin. The TN Girls Player of the Year, Palmerton's Jade Farquhar, completes the squad.The boys team, meanwhile, is guard-oriented. Besides Tamaqua center Brett Kosciolek, the TN Boys Player of the Year, the rest of the First Team is made of point guards. They include the Raiders' Bo Rottet, Northern Lehigh's Matt Egan, Lehighton's Anthony Rossino and Panther Valley's Jake Szczecina.Below are bios and coach's comments on all 10 of this year's First Team players, as selected by the TIMES NEWS Sports Department.GIRLS(in alphabetical order)Trista Cunningham, SeniorNorthwestern TigersResume: A unanimous pick on the Colonial League's First Team, Cunningham completed her senior season in style by helping Northwestern earn a league championship. The 5-9 center led a talented and deep team in both scoring and rebounding. In 26 games, she scored 325 points for an average of 12.5 per contest. She hit for 116 field goals and shot an impressive 53 percent from the floor. Despite being smaller than many opposing centers, she pulled down 169 boards, averaging 6.5 a game. Headed to Moravian College, where she hopes to continue her cage career, Cunningham also came up with 62 steals which was good enough for second on the team. She scored in double figures 19 times and hit for a season-high 22 points on Dec. 23 in a close win against Liberty.Quotable: "She's a senior that leads by example. She's tough as nails and strong. She's one of the toughest players I've coached. She's also aggressive, a hard worker and the ultimate team player. Her improvement from 7th grade to 12th grade was remarkable because she didn't start playing until 7th grade. She's going to be missed. She did a lot of the dirty work that doesn't get recognized except by coaches. She's soft-spoken and well-liked by her teammates. She was our tallest starter and she was only 5-9. She went into most every game guarding a much bigger girl. She's athletic and there's no center in this area that can run up and down the floor as quickly as she can. She's even-keeled, quiet and just plays the game. She has a mix of great qualities, and does a lot of things well." Northwestern head coach Chris DeutschJade Farquhar, JuniorPalmerton Blue BombersResume: This year's TIMES NEWS Girls Basketball Player of the Year did it all for Palmerton. Because of injuries and personnel, the 5-10 junior played practically every position for the Blue Bombers at one point or another. And not surprisingly, wherever she was put she excelled. The left-hander was a scoring force, leading the area in points (364) and scoring average (15.83). Not only did she lead the area in average but her closest competitor finished over three points behind her. At the line, she was near automatic hitting on 80 percent of her free throws (68-of-85). Farquhar also led her team in rebounds (115 for an average of five a game), assists (91) and steals (56). She scored in double figures 20 times with her high being 25 on three separate occasions. Besides the numbers, which included 24 three-pointers, her overall skills and ability to make other teammates better helped Palmerton produce a 15-8 season and a district playoff berth.Quotable: "She was our go-to player especially when things weren't going well offensively. She was the one we looked to. We weren't real big inside and she helped us there early in the year. When we lost Janel Tracy to an injury, we used her as our point guard. She's just a gifted athlete that can play anywhere on the court. She's a hard-nosed competitor that puts forth a full effort. She has great basketball instincts both on offense and defense. She shoots well and can only get better. I think she's going to be an even better player as a senior. Her offensive ability is probably her biggest strength but she also sees the floor well and makes quality passes. She has good knowledge of the game and is definitely a team player. She wants to win and will do what it takes to win." Palmerton head coach Rod StrohlSavanna Krusinsky, SophomoreMarian FilliesResume: At 5-10, Krusinsky was a force for Marian in the paint all season long. Just a sophomore, she led the District 11 Class A champions in both scoring and rebounding. Not only did Krusinsky tally 260 points in 26 games for an even 10.0 points per game average, but she did it in impressive fashion from the floor. The Fillies' center was 95-of-160 from the field - an outstanding .594 percentage. She pulled down 177 rebounds for an average of 6.8 per contest. Krusinsky also contributed 46 steals, 10 blocks and 26 assists. She hit double-figure scoring in 14 games and had a season-high 18 points against Mount Carmel on Dec. 28.Quotable: "She was our biggest inside presence. She was our best rebounder over the course of the season and she was crucial to our success. She was also one of our better defenders in both the halfcourt and our press. Rebounding was probably her biggest strength. With the amount of guards we had, we really needed that from her. Her scoring came mostly in the paint. She has aspirations of playing at the next level and projects as a tweener there so I admire her in the fact that she understands that we need her to play where she does as compared to where she would in college. We needed her inside and she has accepted that willingly. She improved tremendously in anticipation. She played at the back of our press a lot and knew when to take a calculated risk. In the halfcourt she was a good ball defender and may have been our best help defender. She wants to become a more versatile player and she leads by being a good player and playing hard." Marian head coach Paul BruttoSarah Segan, JuniorNorthwestern TigersResume: A shutdown defender, Segan was one of the important pieces to Northwestern's league championship team. The 5-8 junior was named to the Colonial League Second Team all-star squad. Segan contributed 243 points, averaging 9.35 per game, on a balanced squad that finished 24-2. She managed double-digit points in 12 games and also led the Tigers in assists with 74. The all-around player could drill a three-pointer, as evidenced by her 14 on the season, and was third on the team in both rebounds (94) and steals (60). Also a talented soccer player, she used her speed to play up front on the press and was at her best in the open floor. Her quick hands deflected many passes and was often matched up against the opponent's top scorer. She helped the Tigers limit opponents to just 35.3 points per game.Quotable: "Sarah has been our best defender. She's the quickest player on the team. She goes up and down the floor faster than anybody. She also plays big in big games. There are some girls who have a knack for that and she's one of them. She creates match-up problems wherever we play her because she's bigger and can handle the ball. She drives to the basket well and is good at attacking. She's very valuable because she can guard almost anyone on the floor. We can play her anywhere from the 1 to the 4. She's very coachable and a funny kid. She'll say things that crack me up. She keeps things light and doesn't let things get too intense but she's still serious about the game. She gets that twinkle in her eye when we tell her we want you to go out and shut down a certain player. She just loves that challenge. To get a kid that enjoys playing defense and seizes the opportunity to do so, is rare." Northwestern head coach Chris DeutschAbbey Whildin, JuniorMarian FilliesResume: An all-around player that drives to the basket well, Whildin turned out to be a key ingredient in Marian's run to a district championship. Playing her first season for the Fillies (after transferring from Panther Valley), the junior hit for 219 points and now has 793 in her career. Her 7.82 ppg average was second on the team. The Coaldale native was also a solid rebounder, finishing with 118 for an average of 4.2 per contest. She added 61 steals and 34 assists. Her ability to penetrate the paint enabled her to get to the foul line over 100 times, and she converted at a 64 percent clip. As she became familiar with her new team's defensive scheme, she helped the Fillies limit opponents to under 30 points a game. She scored double figures in 10 games and had a season-high 15 against Shenandoah Valley on Dec. 16.Quotable: "There's a learning curve when you move from one program to another and it took her some time to get used to the players and our system. She's very versatile and provided us with some inside scoring and hustle. She could also hit shots from the perimeter, although she scored more in the paint. She was a nice compliment to Savanna (Krusinsky). She's an excellent driver and I think that's her best asset. She gets the ball to the basket and also gets to the line. She became much better defensively in the second half of the season after learning our man-to-man. She's a very coachable kid and was a great addition to our club. She has a great personality and always has a smile on her face." Marian head coach Paul BruttoBOYS(in alphabetical order)Matt Egan, SeniorNorthern Lehigh BulldogsResume: After having success playing summer ball, Egan gained confidence and used it to produce a stellar senior season for Northern Lehigh. The 6-2 point guard did a solid job bringing the ball upcourt and knew what to do with it at the offensive end. Possessing a good jumper and the ability to get to the basket, Egan scored 353 points second most in the TIMES NEWS area. He finished with an average of 15.35 ppg, which more than doubled his output (7.3 ppg) from a year ago. His strength at driving the lane also resulted in many trips to the free throw line. In fact, his 96-of-125 attempts were both highs among all area boys players. Besides leading the Bulldogs to a 13-10 record and a district playoff berth, Egan topped his team in assists (66), steals (48) and blocks (26) and was second in rebounding with 133 (an average of 5.8 per game). He reached double-figure scoring in 20 of his 23 games played and had a season-high 26 against Northwestern on Dec. 13. Egan plans to attend Kutztown University in the fall.Quotable: "We relied on him to do a little bit of everything. Going into the year we needed him to be more assertive and he was able to do that. He initiated our offense and was good against pressure especially since he developed a strong left hand. He was able to get to the basket, but he was also able to finish. We ran a lot of offensive plays for him where we would isolate him. His biggest strength, though, is his court awareness. He saw the floor well and always tried to get everyone involved. As the season went on more defenses tried to stop him. They would run another person at him but he was still able to average 16 points. He meant an awful lot to our club and he was a very coachable young man." Northern Lehigh head coach Jeff MillerBrett Kosciolek, JuniorTamaqua Blue RaidersResume: The back-to-back TIMES NEWS Boys Basketball Player of the Year led the area in scoring average for the second straight season, finishing at 18.82 points per game. Despite missing six-plus games due to injury, the 6-7 junior netted 320 points which was good enough for sixth best among TN boys. Kosciolek became the 11th Blue Raider boys player to reach the 1,000-point mark and currently has 1,034. Besides scoring points, he ripped down 171 rebounds for an average of 10.1 per contest. He added 36 assists and 19 steals while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 79 percent (53-of-67) from the foul line. Despite moving his offensive game closer to the basket, he still drained 15 three-pointers (and now has 97 in his career). He reached double-digit scoring in 16 games and hit for 20-or-more points in eight games. His season-high was a 31-point effort against Minersville. He helped his team post a 13-10 record and earn a berth in the district playoffs.Quotable: "He was a big piece to our team. He led us in scoring and rebounding and he expanded his game and played more with his back to the basket. He was more physical ... and was a little more of an inside presence. He's versatile on offense. We ran a lot of sets for him with more of an emphasis of getting him the ball inside. He's also a threat from the perimeter though. He has the skills of a guard but has also developed a nice inside game. His biggest strength is his ability to score but he was also second on our team in assists. He's a good passer and has a good feel for the game. He's a leader by example. We're looking for him to get a little stronger and be a little more physical next season." Tamaqua head coach Caz KosciolekAnthony Rossino, SeniorLehighton IndiansResume: Rossino defined the phrase "knowing your role" during his senior campaign. The Indians' point guard took on the job of leader, ball handler and distributor in guiding his team to a 14-11 record and playoff berths in both the league and district. While he could have scored more, Rossino was content concentrating on other important areas of the game. That being said, the 5-10 player was still relied on to put up points as he averaged 9.72 a game. He reached double-digit scoring in 15 games and had a high of 19 against East Stroudsburg South on Feb. 6. He hit on 51 percent of his shots from the floor and ended the season with 219 points. He led Lehighton in assists (133 for an average of 5.3 per game) and steals (77 for an average of 3.1) and also contributed 79 rebounds (3.6 per contest). The four-year letterwinner finished his Indian career with 92 games played and 645 points.Quotable: "One of the biggest things he did was he learned how to play as a point guard. And when you have a point guard that understands the game, you're going to win games. He sacrificed scoring for the good of the team and that says a lot about him as a player. He did his job without saying much and he earned respect from his teammates. He always had an optimistic viewpoint and tried to get the best out of evrybody. He never had a negative thing to say about anyone. He scored when he had to but as the team leader he did what was needed to be done. It's going to be hard to replace him. He was a quick kid and sometimes I'm not even sure how he got the ball up the floor against the talent we faced in our league." Lehighton head coach Rich OertnerBo Rottet, JuniorTamaqua Blue RaidersResume: The team's quarterback from his point-guard position, Rottet had an outstanding season for Tamaqua. As a scorer, the 6-0 junior hit for 346 points (third most among area boys) and an average of 15.04 per game (fourth best). A dangerous perimeter shooter, Rottet hit for 50 three-pointers to give him 97 in his career. Also adept at getting to the line foul, he made 66-of-85 free throws for a percentage of .776. Rottet led the Raiders in assists (75 or 3.26 per game) and steals (50 or 2.17 per contest) and was second in rebounds (89). In 23 games, he reached double figures in 18 of them including a season-high 30 against Northern Lehigh. In the seven games, the Raiders were without their leading scorer (Brett Kosciolek), Rottet stepped up and averaged 20 points a contest.Quotable: "Bo had a great year. He has improved each year. He improved from a freshman to a sophomore and then again as a sophomore to a junior. Specifically he improved his all-around game especially understanding the point guard position. He did a better job handling the ball, had better numbers shooting from three-point range and was our main source from the perimeter. He's the ultimate competitor. He plays for keeps and is aggressive. He also got a lot stronger. He became a better defender. I honestly feel that in the Schuylkill League he was one of the top guards. His maturity and competitiveness have grown, as well as his willingness to be coached. He's been a leader on the floor and is a vocal kid." Tamaqua head coach Caz KosciolekJake Szczecina, SeniorPanther Valley PanthersResume: Szczecina has been known the last few years as a three-point threat but the senior expanded his game this season to become more of a complete player. Still dangerous from the perimeter, Szczecina finished second in the TIMES NEWS area with 56 treys and ended his career with 141. The team's point guard quarterbacked the offense and drove to the basket more, which upped his visits to the foul line. At the stripe, he hit on an area best .894 percentage (76-of-85). He finished the season scoring 362 points (tops in the TN area) for an average of 16.45 points per game, reaching double-digit scoring in 18 of his team's 22 contest. He tallied over 30 points twice, including a season-high 33 against Jim Thorpe on Dec. 18. The team's scoring leader also paced PV in rebounding with 123 (5.6 rpg) and steals with 50 (2.3 spg). Bound for Misericordia University, Szczecina also added 43 assists and 15 blocks and finished with 751 career points.Quotable: "Jake is probably the hardest worker we've had in the 12 years I've been here. He has really developed into a solid all-around player. He's evolved from a spot-up shooter as a sophomore into a more of a scorer. He ran the offense for us and took control on the floor. He developed more of an offensive arsenal and was a weapon from anywhere on the court. He worked on his speed, quickness, strength and stamina. He was very well-conditioned and he made that a point of emphasis. Defensively he's a very smart player. He really improved his ability to guard the other team's best player and became a good defender." Panther Valley head coach Pat Crampsie